A series of Pt-TiO₂ films with nanocrystaline structure was prepared by a procedure of photodeposition and subsequent
dip-coating. The Pt-TiO₂ films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscope, electrochemical
characterization to examine the surface structure, chemical composition, and the photoelectrochemical properties. The
photocatalytic activity of the Pt-TiO₂ films was evaluated in the photocatalytic (PC) and photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) degradation of formic acid in aqueous solution. Compared with a TiO₂ film, the efficiency of formic acid degradation using the Pt-TiO₂ films was significantly higher in both the PC and PEC processes. The enhancement is attributed to the action of Pt deposits on the TiO₂ surface, which play a key role by attracting conduction band photoelectrons. In the PEC process, the anodic bias externally applied on the illuminated Pt-TiO₂ films can further drive away the accumulated photoelectrons from the metal deposits and promote a process of interfacial charge transfer.

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